Rush Township police have issued a warning to Tamaqua area residents following an incident of mail theft and resulting fraud.

According to police, a Rush Township resident placed outgoing mail in a rural, residential mailbox to be picked up by the United States Postal Service.

The mail included a check written out to pay a bill.

Police said the mail was later stolen and the check was “washed” using a specific process. The dollar amount was changed to thousands of dollars payable to someone else.

Police are advising area residents to refrain from placing outgoing mail in a rural, roadside mailbox, especially mail containing a personal check. Instead, place the mail in a USPS mailbox, take it to the post office or hand it to a postal worker.